Falcon chicks take flight

TAMARA SHEPHARD

June 12, 2007

It was the maiden flight for two peregrine falcon chicks nesting on the east tower of the Clarica Centre.

A third, more reluctant, feathered sibling has yet to take to the skies, but that flight is also expected soon, say officials with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.

"Two fledglings have come to the ground already," said foundation executive director Mark Nash. "They came down in a rather hard way, but they're fine. We're holding them in a carrier at security waiting to dispatch MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) who've pledged to band the birds."

The Etobicoke peregrine falcon chicks were expected to join their feathered brethren from the downtown Toronto Sheraton Centre yesterday morning in a banding ceremony conducted by MNR officials.

The birds of prey were born April 30 and May 1.

The mortality rate for the peregrine falcon is high. More than 94 per cent of peregrines will die before they reach adulthood.

Threats to the birds include falling from the nest, predators, urban sprawl, as well as encroachment and destruction of habitat by hikers, photographers, lumber, timber and mining operations.

Nash has said each time there's a peregrine chick hatched at one of the foundation's many nest sites across the GTA, "it's as exciting to me as it was 10 years ago."

While the Bloor Street West-Islington Avenue centre chicks caused some havoc on the streets, all is now well, Nash said.

"The Etobicoke peregrine falcon babies taking their first maiden flight are doing what they typically do - causing us a lot of grief in the streets."